Expression of cellular effector functions and production of reactive nitrogen intermediates: a comparative study including T lymphocytes, T-like cells, neutrophil granulocytes, and mononuclear phagocytes.

The ability of various cell types to secrete reactive nitrogen intermediates (RNI) upon functional activation was comparatively assessed. Neither in T lymphocyte clones mediating MHC class I or class II antigen-restricted killing via alpha/beta T cell receptor (TcR) or MHC-unrestricted killing via gamma/delta TcR, nor in peripheral blood mononuclear cells expressing natural killer or lymphokine-activated killer activity, target cell lysis was associated with detectable RNI production. Also, activated neutrophil granulocytes did not secrete RNI. In contrast, bone marrow-derived mononuclear phagocytes, activated to express tumoricidal activity, secreted marked RNI activity.